NHL roster freezes coming into effect for Christmas, and the AHL Norfolk Admirals on break until December 26th, have translated into the addition of Cerdrick Desjardins to the Tampa Bay Lightning roster.
Steve Yzerman explained the move in the press release this morning:
“With Norfolk having a week off we thought it was a good opportunity to have Cedrick join us for a few days to work with Frantz Jean and practice with our team,” Yzerman said. “Whether he sees any playing time will be Guy Boucher’s decision.”
This is Cedrick’s first stint with an NHL club during the season (correct me if I am wrong here, but I do not believe he was ever promoted to the Montreal Canadiens roster in the past). Preseason action had been the 25 year old’s first action against another NHL team.
[Note by John Fontana, 12/20/10 9:51 AM EST ] I hadn’t opined much about this recall, mostly because I wanted to get the news out. I’m one of those who have seriously considered Desjardins an option, and even though the recall is simply a chance for Cedrick to get NHL exposure… Well, I’m hopeful it leads to more in the future.
Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune reported via Twitter that this was planned well in advance. This may be an exposure move, but it also gives first-hand competition to the Mike Smith/ Dan Ellis tandem…. At least for a week, and evenif it’s simply during practice.
The full press release is below the fold.
LIGHTNING RECALL G CEDRICK DESJARDINS FROM NORFOLK
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled goaltender Cedrick Desjardins (SHE-DRIHK deh-ZHAHR-dai) from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League today, Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced. Desjardins joins the Lightning with Norfolk on a break until December 26.
“With Norfolk having a week off we thought it was a good opportunity to have Cedrick join us for a few days to work with Frantz Jean and practice with our team,” Yzerman said. “Whether he sees any playing time will be Guy Boucher’s decision.”
Desjardins, 6-foot, 192 pounds, has played in 18 games with the Admirals this season, posting an 12-5-1 record with a 2.63 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. He is 8-1-0 in his previous nine decisions with a .909 save percentage. Desjardins is tied for fourth in the AHL for wins.
Last season he led the AHL in goals-against average, ranked second in shutouts, fourth in wins and was tied for sixth in save percentage. His success earned him an appearance in the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic, in which he was named top goaltender during the skills competition, as well as landed him on the 2010 AHL Second All-Star Team following the season.
A native of Edmunston, New Brunswick, Desjardins played in 128 QMJHL games with the Rimouski Oceanic and Quebec Remparts during his junior career, posting a 67-47-4 record. In 2006, he helped backstop Quebec to the CHL’s Memorial Cup by posting a 3-1 record with a .926 save percentage en route to being named top goaltender and to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team. Desjardins also aided the Oceanic, along with Sidney Crosby, to the 2005 Memorial Cup where they fell to the London Knights.
Desjardins went undrafted and was signed as a free agent by Montreal on March 7, 2008.
